Saed Hindash/The Star-LedgerBrent Sutter won't be back next season as Devils coach.

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Brent Sutter officially announced that he has resigned as head coach of the Devils on Tuesday, citing his junior team in Red Deer, Alberta, and family matters as his reasons.

Sutter, who had one season remaining on his three-year contract with the Devils, said he had no regrets and insisted he wasn't worried about those who view him as a quitter.

"Personally, I could care less what other people think," Sutter said in a conference call from Alberta. "People out here aren't going to say that because they know what I have here. People there may say it.

"I don't look at it at all as I'm quitting on anything. I took two years of my life and made a big commitment 2,000 miles away. By me doing that, my life suffered in other areas. When it involves family and personal things that you throw everything into, ultimately you have to make certain decisions."

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said he does not have a coach in place to replace Sutter and insisted he has not been conducting a search for a replacement the past few weeks.

"No. There was certainly nothing contemplated or looked upon," Lamoriello said. "Now we will have to make those decisions. There was always a chance of this happening, so it's not something completely unexpected at this point."

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerBrent Sutter, left, is out as Devils coach. Might John MacLean, right, be next?

Assistant coach John MacLean is one candidate. So, apparently, is former Devils coach Jacques Lemaire, who left the Minnesota Wild. Lemaire turned down an offer as a consultant with the Tampa Bay Lightning, revealing that he was talking to another team.

That team could be the Devils, or the Montreal Canadiens, who are in need of an assistant following the hiring of Jacques Martin as head coach.

Sutter could also be on the move. He did not say he was a candidate for the open position as head coach of the Calgary Flames. His brother, Darryl, is the Flames' GM.

However, he also did not close that door.

"I haven't even thought about it as far as whether I have interest in it," Sutter said. "The way it works now is any team that wants to talk to me has to get permission from Mr. Lamoriello.

"That has zero impact on my decision-making here. Zero. None. There have been all these rumors before Edmonton named its coaching staff. The reason is, it's an hour and 15 minutes from my ranch."

Could he handle his duties with the Red Deer Rebels (WHL), his family obligations and still coach an NHL team?

"Absolutely, under the right circumstances you can make it work," Sutter said. "Red Deer is just one piece of the pie."

Lamoriello confirmed that another organization would have to get his permission to sign Sutter. If he gives permission for a team to speak with Sutter, NHL bylaws state there is no compensation forthcoming.

If Lamoriello chooses, Sutter could be forced to sit next season out since he is under contract to the Devils. Another club, such as the Flames, could offer compensation to the Devils for an opportunity to speak with Sutter.

Although Sutter spoke at various points during training camp and this past season of being homesick, he said he did not decide to step down until Monday. He said it was all pure speculation until then.

So why did it take so long to make his decision?

"I just wanted to make sure I never looked back and regretted it," he said. "To be quite honest, I had a decent sleep last night for the first time in seven weeks.

"To be quite honest, when the season ended this wasn't the decision I had 6-7 weeks ago."

Sutter coached the Devils for two seasons, posting a 97-56-11 record. But the team was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round both seasons.

A loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the final 80 seconds of Game 7 was particularly stunning.

Asked how much that loss played into his decision, Sutter said: "Absolutely nothing. That's why it was important to go through the process."

Sutter said Lamoriello was "respectful and supportive" throughout the process because he has been to Red Deer to see what has been calling the coach back home.

I asked Lamoriello about the perception of some that Sutter is a quitter.

"I don't even think of those things. It's not in my vocabulary," the GM said. "I'm certainly disappointed, but I understand his reason for it. I think Brent did an excellent job."

Sutter sounded completely at ease during the conference call.

"My decision is I've officially resigned as head coach of the New Jersey Devils effective today," he began. "My reason? A personal and family reasons. It has a lot to do with a lot of things here in Red Deer. Some things have occurred over the last year that made it more difficult.

"Other people should fly out here and see what's here."

Asked if he would like to see MacLean should be a candidate to succeed him, Sutter said: "You bet. I'm hoping John is part of that process."

Any regrets?

"I don't regret it at all, as far as the hockey side of it," Sutter said. "It was a great experience. I had two years there and I was around some good people and to have the chance to coach the players I did was fantastic."

And the team he leaves?

"I think the Devils' future is great," Sutter said. "To me it's not about one person. It's about the program in place and the structure within that program. It's in great hands there. It's always been that way. That's what is unique about the New Jersey Devils. The culture there."

Sutter said he has not discussed remaining with the Devils in any capacity.